Combination vehicle-body.



J. H. CLASS. COMBINATION VEHICLE BODY. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1.191s

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY J. H. CLASS. comammou VEHICLE BODY.

. APPLICATION FILED APR- 1. I916- .1 ,278,858. Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I? N INVENTOR BY fiJ MM.

ATTORNEY 'n s'r JOHN H. CLASS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

COMBINATION VEHICLE-BODY.

Specification'of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 1'7, 191- 8- Application filed April 7, 1916. Serial No. 89,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN l-LCLAss, a .citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Vehicle- Bodies, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined bodyfor vehicles, and more specifically to a combined box bed and hay rack construction.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a commercial wagon bed which may be adapted as a box bed, or by slight modifications, may be readily converted into a hay rack. 7 Another object of the invention resides in the novel construction of the side boards.

same being hingedly of the wagon bed, the

with means whereby mounted and provided they'may be securely supported in an ad for use w1th the usual'box to provide for means boards may be so adjusted position bed; and further, wherebythe said side justed as to be used in conjunction with a I hay rack.

A still further object of the inventiomis to provide suitable truss members, which serve a dual function, means for bracing the wagon bed, and, also, as means whereby the hay supporting ladders, as used in conjunction withthe conventional form of hay racks, may be supported in a rigid, upright position. g I It is also. contemplatedby the invent on,

'to provide for hay supporting ladders, which are cmstructed from suitable material, such as, angleirons, or the like, onejof sald ladders being pivoted intermediate its length to allow for the folding thereof intoanout of the way position, when not in use. The remaining, or second supporting ladder, constitutes a substantially rigid construction, readily engageable With the fixedlymounted side boards of the wagon bed; means being provided whereby the second supporting ladder may be detaehably connected with said side boards.

All of the foregoing, together with additional advantageous features and arrangement of parts of the preferred embodiment of my invention will be clear from the specific description hereinafter contained when read in connection withtheaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein namely, as eflicient numbered 9.

connected thereto,

and is of such size and width as to be said embodiment of the invention is illustrated'for the purpose of facilitating a full understanding of the present improvements.

In the drawings z- Figure 1 is a side-elevation, showing a wagon having the bed thereof constructed in accordan'ce'with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the improved wagon bed;

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2; p v

Fig. at is a rear elevation of the wagon bed; I

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the supporting arm for the movable side boards; and

Fig. supporting arm Referring now taken on the line 3-3 wagon bed comprises side and end portions 5 and 6, respectively, which areso arranged receivable within truss which truss frame members constitute a plurality of longitudinal angle bars 7 and 8, which have connected thereto, jacent ends,

at their ad and intermediate, their length,

s PATENT orrron. I

'85 as. to constitute the usual boxbed and are.

frame members,

a plurality of vertical angle bars, generally,

horizontally and transversely extending bars 10, the said transverse bars being connectedto the vertical angle bars-9, as at -11,

by means of suitable fastening devices. The by means of a Web connection may be made,

1 plate 12, which is secured or formed upon of the angle bars, and g the lower extremities The vertical angle bars Shave at their lower extremities is secured to the outer ends of the transverse 1 bars, as at 13, thus, afiording a rigid construction. It is to be also noted that the side portions 5 of the wagon bed 1 may be secured to the vertically arranged angle bars 9, at suitable intervals, whereby the same maybe rigidly supported in their upright position. Arranged upon the upper ends of thevertical angle bars 9, are segments, generally numbered 14, which egments are provided with, adjacent their curved marginal hers 24 angle iron,

edges, ...a plurality of apertures 15, -these ments 1% being secured to the upperends of'the angle bars 9 by means of-rivets,'or other fastening devices, as designated at 16. Pivotally connected to the upper-ends of the angle bars 9 are angle arms 17, which angle arms are providedwith, {tti3l16l1':-10\VGI' 6X- tremities, complementally formed segments 18 similar to the segments '14, the segments 18 also, having arranged adjacent their curved marginal edges, apertures 19. The segments 18 are secured to the lower extremitiesof anglearms 17 by means of suitable fastening devices, uch as rivets or'the like 20. Anynumber ofthe vertical angle ba-rs'9and pivotally mounted angle arms 17 may be provided, this depending entirely upon'the size-of the-wagon or vehicle. Secured to the upper sides of the angle'bars 1-7, "are supplemental side "boards :21, the same being held in rigid connectiontherewith, *by suitable fastening devices. Any form of pivots may be used to connect'th'e adjacent extremities of the members 9vand 17, such, forinstance, as a pin 22, which is shown to advantage in Fig. 4:. To provide for means whereby the segments 14: and 18 maybe locked in an adjusted position,that is tosay when'the apertures, l5and 19, have beenalinedtherein, I may use any form oi locking-means, such asa pin 2%.

It is, wagon hed is provided with the usual'flooring-which I'have designated at 23, itbeing preferable, in this particular embodiment, that the-flooringbe of the sectional type, so that-it may'be readily removed.

in order to provide for the 'hay supportingdaddersasused in conjunction with'the usual-hay Tack, I provide different types of ladders one'bemg of an entirely rlgid construction, while the remaining ladder is of the foldable "type -so that the same may be folded in an 'out of the not in use. "Referring more the-ladders, "I designate the rigid ladder construction bythe-character2t, which ladtier-includes vertical side pieces or'the-like, numbered 25'and 26, the upper extremities of said side members 25*and 26 being provide "for means whereby the upper ex tremities of the members 27 and 28 may be way position, when held in spaced relation and may be so formed as to afford a substantially rigid construction, I provide a horizontal space bar 2'9, which and25, and as furtherbracing'means, 1 provide oppositely inclined cross bars 30 and 31, which barsarealso securely aifixed tothe-side members 25 and 26, bysuitable fastening devices,-such as :rivets or the like. These fastening devices are generallynumberedas at'32, while thebars 30 and "31 are secured at their intersecting points by a of course, to be understood tha-tf-the specifically 'to 7 formed 'from inclined as at 2'7 and 28. To

is secured at either :end .to the iuemfastening-device, as indicated at The ioldable ladder construction may be stated suitablemanner, by means of rivets, or other fastening devices, as indicated at 36, while the lower extremities of said bars Set are secured to a similar transversely.arranged truss member 37, as at 3'8. Pivotally secured as at lO'to the upper extremities ofsaid bars 32 is a second set of similarly formed angle bars 39, which bars 39 are bra'c'ed intermediate their length by transversely arranged connecting members generally numbered All, which connecting members are securely affixed-thereto. The adjacent ends or" the bars 34 and 40 are provided with connecting plates iiiand etS, which are securely ailixed to their respective bars by ineansof rivets generally numbered 14 and 45, said plates being provided with, adjacent their upper marginal edges, .registrable apertures, designated as at 46, these apertures being adapted .to receive therethrough, locking pins or the like-as shown at 46. By this construction,itwillbe obvious that the piv ota'lly supported bars 39 may be held in a substantially rigid manner with relation to the supportingibars 3a, Whenitis desired that the same should be used as a hay ladder. When it is desired to-move the same into an inoperative or in an 'outof the way position, it is merely necessary to' remove the locking pins 46 whereupon the member 39, may be readily folded into an out oi" the way position, and dash lines in Fig. 2. Although, the m'e'mbersfi'have been shown as rigidly connec'tedyto'the wagonbed, it is obvious that the same may 'be.-readily detached from the wagon bed; To thisend, attention is also directed to the-fact, that. theirigid ladder-construction is.removably supported by the side portions or boards,fbymeans of bolts 47, as

at the front of the'bed; however, it is to be Y apprecia'tedzt'hat the disposition o'ftheladder structure forms no part'of the lnventiom'inasmuch as the same maybe positioned in any suitable manner upon the wagon bed,

such as conditions or preferences maydictate.

Referring now to the operation of the device, and assuming that the user is desirous of "having the body converted into a boX bed, it will be apparent necessary to remove the ladder structure, l

as shown by the dot as being mounted that it is only i while the pivotally mounted portion 39. of the foldable ladder is folded into an out,of the way position as shown in Fig. 2. The movableside boards 21 arethen m'ovedinto vertical position and in alinement withthe rigid side portions, whereupon the comple mentally arranged recesses 15 and 19 are alined, in order that a locking pin, or the means of rotatable locking bolts v50, which bolts are engageable with the movable side portions 21.- When the user is desirous of converting the boX bed, as above described,

into the usual form of hay rack, it is only necessary that .the ladder structures be placed in positron, or if the same. have not been detached, it is only necessary that the I section 39 of the foldabledadder be raised into vertical position, sothat the apertures in the, plate 1543, carried by said movable structure, will aline with the apertures as v arranged in the plate 42,whereupon ,a locking device is passed therethrough, and the structure is rigidly held in its vertical position. The end gates 48 may be then folded into an out of the way position, as shown 'to advantage in the dotted lines in Fig. 3 while the movable side members may be then adjusted into horizontal position, and locked in this position by means of passing locking pins 22 through the registering openings 15 and 19. If it is so desired, the movable flooring 23 may be then removed, however, this remains with the option of the user.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that by a slight modification, the body of the vehicle has been converted from the usual bed to the conventional form of hay rack, thus providing for a body particularly desirable for farming purposes.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with such construction as I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that different arrangements of the parts from those herein shown and described for producing the desired results may be employed, together with mechanical equivalents for some or all parts as may be in keeping with hereto appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2-- 1. A wagon body including a bottom and the. side boards, the lower ends of the standards projecting below the bottom, transverse beams joined between pairs of the vertical. standards, brace plates secured at the nncture of the transverse beams and the pro ecting ends of the vertical standards, longn tudinal beams joining the upper ends of the vertical standards, supplemental side mem-.

side boards, vertical standards supporting.

the side boards, thelower ends of the stand-. ards projecting below 'thebottom, transverse beams joined between pairs of the vertical standards, longitudinal beams joined to the upper ends of the vertical standards, supplemental side members including standards adjustably hinged to the vertical side standards, a front end having a hinged portion with a lock for engaging the supplemental side members when-moved to a vertical posi-. tion, and a bracingbeam disposed'across the front ofthe wagon body and; connected :to the adjacent vertical standards to keep the sides from spreading.

3. A wagon body including a bottom and side boards, vertical standards supporting the side boards, the lower ends of the standards projecting below the bottom, transverse beams joined between pairs of the vertical standards, brace plates secured at the juncture of the transverse beams and the projecting ends of the vertical standards, longitudinal beams joining the upper ends of the vertical standards,supplemental side members including standards adjustably hinged to the vertical side standards, and a front end having a hinged portion with a lock for when moved to a vertical position.

4'. A wagon body including a bottom and side boards, vertical standards supporting the side boards,'the lower ends of the standards projecting below the bottom, transverse beams joined between pairs of the vertical standards, brace plates secured at the juncture of the transverse beams and the project ing ends of the vertical standards, longitudinal beams joining the upper ends of the vertical standards, and supplemental side members including standards adjustably hinged tothe vertical side standards.

5. A wagon body including a bottom and side boards, vertical standards supporting the side boards, the lower ends of the standards projecting) below the bottom, transverse beams joined etween pairs of the vertical standards, brace plates secured at the juncture of the transverse beams and the projecting ends of the vertical standards, longitudinal beams joining the upper ends of the vertical standards, supplemental slde members'including standards adjustably hinged to the vertical side standards, and a bracing standards, brace platessecured at the juncture of the transverse beams and the projecting ends ofthe vertical'standards, supplemental side members including standards adjus-tably hinged tothe vertical side standards, a front end having a hinged portion with a lock'foriengaging the supplemental sidemembers when moved 'to a vertical position, and a bracing beam disposed across the front ofthe Wagon body and connected to the adjacent vertical standards to keep the sides from spreading.

7; A Wagon body including a bottom and side-boards, vertical standards supporting the side boards, the lower ends of the standards projecting; below the bottom, trai'i'sverse Copie: or this patent mayhe ebtained for five cents each, by addr'isin gthc bomm'hsioner ot'latenti. V

beams joined .between'pairsof the vertical standards, brace p'lates secured at the'juncture of the transverse beams and; the projecting ends of the verticalstandards, supplemental side members including standards adjustably hinged to the vertical side standards, and a front end having-a-hinged portion with a lock for engaging the supple-V mental side members whenmoved'to a vertical position,- I 1 8. A Wagon body including a bottom and side boards, vertical standards supporting the Sideboards, the lower-ends of the stand ards projec'tingbelow the'bottom, transverse beams joined between pairs of the vertical standards, brace plates secured at the juncture of the transversebeams and the projecting ends of the vertical standards, supplemental side members including standards adjustably hinged to the vertical side standfront of the Wagon body and connected to the adjacent vertical standards to keep the sides from spreading.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence/of two witnesses.

JOHN'Hg'CLASS. Witnesses: 1

' K. RHONEM S, R. A. JAoKso W'nhinytu, D. 0.

c ards, and a bracing beam disposed across the 

